By Austin Lindner | Echo
It's been known by many names, from "The Heavenbound Quartet" to "The Ebony and the Ivories," but now last year's popular student-led vocal quartet triumphantly returns to Taylor with a new name and a sharper focus. Now called The Night Lights, the a cappella group has been performing in a variety of events on and off campus while developing a few new projects for the future.
The quartet consists of juniors Taylor Eaton and Tyler Schnute and sophomores John Houlihan and E.J. Morris. The Night Lights has performed together since the beginning of the 2013-14 school year when Eaton, the only member with prior experience in quartets, began posting flyers around Taylor in hopes of organizing a group.
After three weeks of asking around and auditioning potential members, Eaton found three talented singers with varied musical backgrounds to make up his quartet.
"It was kind of a ragtag team of guys to start out with," Eaton said. "We really didn't know each other at the beginning of last year."
After its formation, the group adopted its first of numerous names, "The Heavenbound Quartet," and began bringing its Southern gospel arrangements to churches around Indiana. During last J-term, they recorded an album with their soulful versions of songs like "Because He Lives" and "In the Sweet Forever." However, after singing a more diverse song list in the Valentine's Banquet last year, they decided to branch out into new genres.
Since then, The Night Lights has experimented with several different styles, incorporating its tight harmonies into hymns and barbershop music, as well as continuing to practice and perform its gospel material.
In addition, the quartet finalized its name this year after experimenting with around 20 different possibilities. "The Four Kings of Enoch" and "The Rooks" failed to make the cut before the group decided to call itself The Night Lights.
"It fits for our performances with churches because we're the light in the night for Christ," Eaton said. "There's a lot we can do with that name and we're going to make it ours."
In addition to performing in church settings, the quartet sings for a variety of on-campus events, both student- and faculty-led. They will also be going on tour with Taylor Chorale during spring break.
Next year, The Night Lights plan to take the next step by recording a new album in a higher-quality studio, tentatively during J-term.
According to the group, since its formation last year, it has received wonderful support from the entire community. Taylor President Eugene Habecker and first lady Marylou have personally requested them for special performances.
As graduation nears for two of the quartet's members, The Night Lights hope its tradition and legacy will continue after the original members graduate.
"If, 30 years down the road, I come back to Taylor and I see the same group performing, that would be cool," Eaton said. "It may have a different name, a different genre, but I hope it carries on."
